Tail Light or Turn Signal Indicator Bulb

[Neuner]

Disconnected tail light wiring for tub bed liner application and swapped out LED Indicator Bulbs for the dash at the same time. Turn Signal Indicator lights, tail lights and everything else worked great before.

After putting it all back together, the turn signals don't work. Trying to narrow down where to start testing and inspecting. I know the turn signals don't operate if there is a blown bulb in the flasher/tail light but do they also not work if the indicator light is out or not making the circuit?

 

[Torxhead]

The tail light is another location on a CJ where the ground circut is quite poor. To test for this would be running a jumper wire from the light housing to the battery negative, then look for a brightness on whatever tailight is working. I got some added brightness on mine and added a #12 ground wire in the tailight harness.

 

[Neuner]

My brake lights are blinding bright and so are the reverse lights when they kick on. Sorry but wasn't asking how to get tail lights to work. Asking if an indicator light not working in the dash affects the blinking like when a tail light is blown.

 

[Torxhead]

The standard flasher will quit if there is a blown taillight, a heavy duty flasher will continue working with a blown tailight. I can only assume the same would apply for the dash light. If your leds are too bright, I would think a resistor would help. There is a formula for that somewhere. Did that help?

 

[harleydragon]

yes..I have seen them do that before..as said earlier.it might depend on the flasher you have

 

[mtnwhlr]

Asking if an indicator light not working in the dash affects the blinking like when a tail light is blown.

I don't think it will.

 

[Neuner]

Thanks for the replies! That helps me narrow down the problem.

Didn't know there was a heavy duty flasher over the standard. I might have to check that out although I like that the blinker stops working with a blown bulb to tell me that it's out otherwise I don't know if I'd ever realize it until I was pulled over. Have to think about that one.

 

[gyvrr]

I had a similar problem, if I read the post correctly.... When installing LED's for turn signals, you have to buy and install an electronic flasher. The LED's don't produce enough load to make the standard flasher work.

 

[Neuner]

Alright. Been messing around with the damn wiring in the rear for too long and finally found part of the problem, a hidden PO wiring rats nest splice near the gas tank that had been wound in electrical tape and came loose. The wires must have created a short when I pulled on them to re-make the tail light connection.

Although I did it up proper, everything works except the turn signals. Hazards, brakes and running lights work but the turn signal does not. LED Speedo Turn Signal Indicator bulbs light up nice and bright when I use the hazards so I was happy with that. Neither the left or right turn signals do anything.

Could the short have blown the turn signal module?

btw: I'm not running LED bulbs for any of the tail lights or headlights. I only got the small LED direct replacement bulbs for the dash gauge lights.

 

[Hedgehog]

Did you run a ground wire to the light case. I don't believe yo need to run one all the way back to the battery though. I usually run one to the body or the frame, never hurts to be sure. Do all your lights flash when the hazard light circuit is on? If they do, it's not a problem with the rear lighting or the wiring. Your problem is under the dash.

 

[Neuner]

Did you run a ground wire to the light case. I don't believe yo need to run one all the way back to the battery though. I usually run one to the body or the frame, never hurts to be sure. Do all your lights flash when the hazard light circuit is on? If they do, it's not a problem with the rear lighting or the wiring. Your problem is under the dash.

Yes and Yes. Anxious to pick up a flasher on the way home from work and give it a try. Really hope that is the only culprit.

 

[Neuner]

New flasher module didn't fix it. Still nothing for the turn signals.

I'm stumped. I don't know what could have happened since I didn't change anything behind the dash except the dash gauge lights and the turn signals worked perfectly before I even started this.

Steering wheel is off and I tried pushing in on the little horn button but the horn didn't go off. Should that have worked? Is it a sign as to what may be wrong?

What is in series with the turn signals that could be the culprit. Really don't want to dive into the switch since I don't know how that could have been busted.

All help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Neuner]

Checked the continuity of the turn signal switch and it is fine. Checked/replaced fuses and they are fine. Really cannot figure out what the issue might be.

It would seem it's a ground or loose wire issue but I really can't find anything. It's actually pretty clean back behind the dash.

 

[Neuner]

Gave up and decided to work on other things and took the dash off then put back on. Bam, horn & turn signals worked BUT the turn and brights indicator bulbs in the speedo stayed on working opposite of what they should. Also couldn't get the interior lights to switch on with the headlight switch. When you turned the brights on, the indicator light went off. It was very strange but the turn signals, brake lights, etc were all working correctly.

It was nice out so I took it for a drive after several months of being in confinement. A couple of miles down the road everything switched back to normal and started working correctly again including the interior lights. While I was at my son's practice I had to keep glancing back at the CJ making sure it wasn't on fire. Very aggravating and it has me nervous.

 

[Torxhead]

One location that can cause rear electrical problems is at the rear harness plug. The one located under the dash that plugs in the rear wiring harness. If not reinstalled correctly it can cause problems with the rear lights. If you have installed a heavy duty flasher, you should be able to hear the relay inside it clicking, indicating electricity to that point.